"Stand at attention. Put the gun on your shoulder and salute!"
Following the shout of Wang Dalong, the leader of the First Regiment of the Shanghai New Army, the two thousand Shanghai New Army infantrymen lined up outside Kunshan County put their bayonet-mounted Brown Bess muskets on their shoulders, and then looked forward together. The big man wearing the uniform of an upright official who had just emerged from among several carriages paid his attention.
The people who got off the carriage were mainly the leaders of the "Qing Dynasty God-inviting Mission". Sushun, Yuanbao, Bai Siwen, and Li Hongzhang were all here. There was also Jiangsu Assistant Minister of Military Affairs Shengbao, who came to see Su off. Shun, Yuanbao, Bai Siwen and others were on the same trip. By the way, they also wanted to go to Shanghai to invite foreign soldiers to buy foreign guns.
These few people just got off the carriage and saw the two thousand new officers and soldiers lined up to greet them!
Everyone was really in high spirits, and all of them had foreign guns on their shoulders! The foreign guns were also equipped with polished bayonets. When the sun shone, the cold light shone!
"What a good soldier! What a good soldier! If our Eight Banners strong army has such elites, why worry about the world being unfair?"
As soon as Sushun got off the carriage, he was surprised by a regiment of Shanghai New Army infantry forming three columns on one side of the official road, and he expressed his heartfelt admiration.
On the side, Shengbao, Yuanbao, and Bai Siwen had all led troops. Now they were amazed to see these two thousand Shanghai New Army soldiers. Compared with the "Devil-Subduing Camp" they led before, it was really like heaven and earth. Underground!
However, what these few people may not know is that the "Snow Commander Luo Xueyan" is actually not satisfied with the thousands of new Shanghai troops under his command.
These recruits were hastily recruited by Jiao Hong, Zhang Sanxiang, and Cheng Fupei through their connections with the gentry in Hongmen, Songjiang, and Taicang. The only requirements were that they were young, healthy, and not addicted to opium.
Considering that the economy in Shanghai has developed rapidly due to the opening of the port, the people have many more ways to survive than elsewhere. In addition, in the Qing Dynasty, there is a tradition of "good iron does not make nails, and good men do not serve as soldiers". Can we follow the "Young", Healthy and not taking opium. "With these three requirements, it is not easy to recruit all the people in a short period of time. Naturally, the quality in other aspects is not that good.
Moreover, these recruits have not been educated by military lecturers, nor have they experienced "dividing fields and land". Of course, they do not believe that "Xue Shuai" is the "Eighth Master" of God's family. They just look at the relatively generous food and salary. , just shout a few times "Eat Xueshuai's food, wear Xueshuai's clothes".
Fortunately, there are hundreds of teaching brigades brought by Wang Dalong and Feng Zicai, as well as the veterans who came out of the secret hall to practice hard. Over the past month, they have finally become somewhat good. However, compared to the Guangxi people in the first and second armies, , Hunanese, these recruits recruited from Shanghai are indeed much worse.
The former is "I want to practice", while the latter is attracted by military pay and forced by the sticks and whips of officers and veterans to practice well.
There was a lot of difference during military training, and the difference will probably be even greater when fighting begins.
Therefore, in Luo Yaoguo's plan, the Shanghai New Army is just a model. By the way, the officers and veterans from the teaching brigade and secret halls can learn how to train the European-style New Army. When Shanghai is settled, those from Guangxi and Hunan will be The old brother was transferred to reorganize the First and Second Army.
If the first and second armies can be reorganized into two or three European-style infantry divisions, then Luo Yaoguo's "Soochow" territory will be truly guaranteed.
Of course, the Shanghai New Army signboard must continue to be held high!
Only with the Shanghai New Army can we have the Shanghai Special Economic Zone! Only with the Shanghai Special Economic Zone can the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom "reform" and have the opportunity to embark on the path of industrialization.
The current path of the Taiping Rebellion, whether it is the "Hong Yang Route" or the "Luo Feng Route", is unlikely to attract local private capital to develop industry and commerce. Instead of attracting private capital, it will force private capital to flee.
For foreign capital, foreign traders and foreign talents, the policies and business environment of the Taiping Rebellion may not be very attractive.
And a "special zone" with a superior geographical location and the ability to implement special policies that are different from the Taiping Rebellion and the Qing Dynasty should be very attractive to domestic and foreign capital and talents.
In addition, it is only the 1850s, and the second industrial revolution has not yet occurred. Human history is still at the end of the first industrial revolution. In this era, the labor force that industrialization can absorb is also limited. The United Kingdom and France only have There are 20 to 30 million people, and the area controlled by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will soon have 200 million people!
With such a large population, coupled with a high birth rate, it is impossible to rely on industrialization in the mid-19th century to absorb the excess population. Not only can cities and factories not be able to absorb the excess population, but also rural areas where the conflict between man and land cannot be excessive. The large urban population provides food rations. Therefore, population export is imperative!
In order to achieve a certain scale of population export when the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom cannot obtain sea power, it is necessary to have a "Shanghai Special Zone". After all, the only way to carry out population export when there is no imperialist "imperial status" is for the time being. Unseemly...
Therefore, Luo Yaoguo had no choice but to put on his official uniform of the fourth rank of the Qing Dynasty, took Wang Kuiyi and Cheng Fupei, and walked towards Sushun, Shengbao, Yuanbao, Li Hongzhang and others with a smile on his face.
Before he could reach Su Shun and others, Li Hongzhang had already seen him. He immediately smiled and said to the people around him: "Master Su, Master Sheng, Master Yuan, Master Bai, and Luo Xueshuai are here."
Hearing his shout, several people no longer wanted to look at the appearance of the Shanghai New Army. They all turned their heads and looked in the direction of Li Hongzhang's finger.
Sushun, Shengbao, and Bai Siwen were fine. They all looked at Luo Xueyan with smiles on their faces and cupped their fists and raised their hands. According to the past official etiquette, Luo Xueyan, a fourth-rank official, met Sushun and Shengbao, two first- and second-rank officials. , you have to give a big salute. But nowadays, if you have a gun, you are the grass-headed king, and Luo Xueyan is the "Xue Shuai". Su Shun, Shengbao doesn't dare to let others give a big salute.
Seeing Luo Xueshuai clasping fists with them, they all clasped their fists and raised their hands while moving forward. Li Hongzhang was even more respectful, and quickly walked up to him as a bow. Only Yuanbao stood there blankly as if he had been hit by a immobilization spell, and even raised his fingers to point. Luo Xueshuai, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, looked torn between wanting to shout but not daring to shout.
Bai Siwen, who was with him, already realized something was wrong. While bowing to Luo Xueyan, he asked in a low voice: "Keqin, what's wrong with you?"
"He, he is, he is..."
Motoho wanted to say, "He was transformed by a demon," but when he reached his lips, he realized something was wrong!
This is their territory, and there are two thousand elite soldiers of their foreign rifle team standing next to it. If this monster gives the order, today next year will be the death anniversary of Guerjia Motoho!
While he was in a daze, Luo Xueyan had already met Sushun and Shengbao and walked towards him with a smile: "Brother Keqin, we meet again! It's been more than half a year since we said goodbye to Hunan... How are you? ?」
When Bai Siwen saw that Luo Xueyan and Yuanbao were old acquaintances, he asked with envy: "Keqin, you and Xueshuai have known each other for a long time?"
Yuanbao also reacted at this time. His face changed, and he turned from surprise to affection. He clasped his fists with a smile: "Brother Xueyan, you are so famous now... You have become the "Snow Handsome", I am envious of you!"
Luo Xueyan laughed, stepped forward and took Yuanbao's hand, then turned to Sushun, Shengbao, and Li Hongzhang and said: "Master Su, Master Sheng, brother Shaoquan, Keqin and I have been friends since we were in Changsha. Unexpectedly, We meet again in Kunshan today, what a fate! Brother Keqin, we must have a few drinks today!"
After hearing what Luo Xueyan said, Yuan Bao knew that the other party wanted to continue to "pretend" and would not attack him for the time being. He felt a little relieved, so he dealt with it with a smile on his face.
When Luo Xueyan wanted to reminisce about the past with this "mooncake thief", his "Master" Wu Ruxiao suddenly trotted from the city gate of Kunshan County to the front, then looked panicked and said in a low voice : "Xue Shuai, what's wrong, the long-haired pseudo-angel Wu King Luo Yaoguo sneaked into Shanghai County, captured Wu Daotai, killed Yuan Zhixian, defeated the foreigners who sent troops to intervene, and took advantage of the situation to invade the concession! The foreigners in the concession have already Unable to bear it any longer, British Vice Consul Wetoma personally came to ask for help from us. The carriage has just arrived at the Kunshan County Government..."
"What?" "This is happening!" "What should I do?" "Xue Shuai..."
Sushun, Shengbao, Bai Siwen, and Li Hongzhang were all shocked after hearing Wu Ruxiao's words. Only Yuanbao's face remained as usual, his eyes fixed on Luo Xueyan, thinking: "You monster is going to lie to me again!"
Luo Xueyan also looked nervous, and hurriedly raised his fists at Sushun and others: "Sir, let's go to the county government office to meet this Witoma, and let's hear what he has to say!"...
"Master Luo, the situation in Shanghai is very critical now. Luo Yaoguo's army has invaded the French Concession and the British Concession. Our army is small and difficult to resist. Half of the concession has fallen. If you don't send troops quickly, the whole of Shanghai will fall. ..”
In the Kunshan County Government Office, the British Deputy Consul Witoma, who had rushed over after a long journey, was really anxious. Before Luo Xueyan, Sushun, Shengbao and others could sit down, he stood up and rushed forward to ask for help urgently and quickly in Chinese.
It seems that the "fake devil" Zhu Ba did a good job! Luo Xueyan praised it in his heart, and then asked with a puzzled face: "Master Wei, where do you want me to send troops to save?"
"Save the Concession," said Witoma, "Save the French Concession and the British Concession in Shanghai.
.. Only your army can save it now!"
"Oh," Luo Xueyan nodded and asked, "Master Wei, what is the French Concession and the British Concession?"
Waitoma was stunned by Luo Xueyan's words, and after a long while he said: "The concession is, according to the "Shanghai Land Leasing Regulations" signed in 1845, our British Consulate and the French Consulate purchased land in Shanghai and established it exclusively for foreigners coming to China.
Land where people live and engage in commercial operations..."
Chapter completed!